Compound mould enclosing press



Dec. 3, 1957 E. H. YUKON ETAL 2,814,829

COMPOUND MOULD ENCLOSING PREss 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 Dec.3, 1957 E. H. YUKON ETAL COMPOUND MOULD ENCLOSING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 10, 1956 Dec. 3, 1957 E. H. YUKON Er AL 2,814,829

COMPOUND MOULD ENCLOSING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 1957E. H. YUKON E AL 2,814,829

COMPOUND MOULD ENCLOSING PRESS Filed Feb. 10, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q\1!?1. \W E A 0 Mn V. Q. 18 m Q\ Y 8% \W@ m m milllllaam e g F Q Dec; 3,1957 E. H. YUKQN ET AL 2,

COMPOUND MOULD ENCLOSING PRESS Filed Feb. 10, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec.3, 1957 E. H. YUKON EIAL COMPOUND MOULD ENCLOSING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed Feb. 10. 1956 United States Patent ()fiice 2,814,829 Patented Dec.3, 1957 COMPOUND MOULD ENCLOSING PRESS Edward H. Yukon, SouthBraiu'tree, and Elwyn F. Bonney,

Auburndale, Mass., assignors to Acme Industrial Equipment Company,Boston, Mass., a corporation Application February 10, 1956, Serial No.564,743

9 Claims. (Cl. 18-16) This invention relates to an apparatus for formingmolded bodies and, more particularly, to a compound mold enclosing pressof the class employing upper and lower platens which are required to bemoved into and out of operative engagement with one another in thecourse of a molding operation.

In one specific aspect, the invention is exemplified by a mold enclosingpress of relatively large size involving the application of highpressure, for example, pressures occurring in an order of magnitude offrom 50,000 to 60,000 pounds in some cases. In this preferredembodiment, the press is especially designed for cold press operationbut may also be utilized in conjunction with the application of heat.

In designing and operating a press of the general class indicated, it isexceedingly important to provide for moving the platen elements of thepress into desired positions of adjustment while maintaining a veryprecise register of the mold surfaces with respect to one another in aclosed position of the press. The problem of designing a mechanism whichwill deal with the pressures indicated and which can perform necessaryplaten movements in precise register is further complicated by clearancerequirements for clearing mold parts, such as elongated mold pins andthe like, during separation of these members.

It is a general object of the invention to devise a compound moldenclosing press of the platen type indicated and to provide in such astructure special mechanisms for preventing any displacement of thepress parts and for guiding the enclosed mold elements into desiredpositions of precise register. It is a further object of the inventionto provide a special platen movement by means of which the separation ofmold pins may be facilitated. Still another object is to combine withthe press of the invention a safety locking device for one of theplatens, as well as other safety apparatus for protecting pressoperators from injury during the press movements. Various other objectsand novel features will be further apparent from the detaileddescription of the invention hereinafter set forth.

To deal with the problems and objectives outlined, we have conceived ofthe idea of combining a pivotally supported upper press platen and moldassembly with a vertically movable lower press platen and mold assemblyin operatively connected relationship to one another. In thisarrangement, the vertically movable lower press platen, during movement,is constantly guided along a predetermined vertical path which maintainsexact register of this member with the pivoting upper platen.

We have further found that, in thus combining the two platens inoperatively connected relationship, we may desirably employ a novelsequence of movements for separating pin type molds with a minimum ofdiflEiculty and lost motion, and we may also provide for highlydesirable adjustability features. We have also devised special safetyapparatus particularly designed for the combination of upper and lowerplatens noted and useshown in Fig. 1.

2 ful in guarding an operator during the operation of these pressplatens in their joined-together association.

These features are illustrated in one preferred form in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the mold enclosing press of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view further illustrating an upper platenand mold unit in a raised position;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the upper platen and moldunit lowered into a horizontally disposed position;

Fig. 5 is still another side elevational view similar to Figs. 3 and 4but also indicating in broken lines a lower platen and mold unit inengaged relationship with the upper platen and mold unit;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the platen supporting structure of theinvention with the upper and lower platen and mold units removedtherefrom;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of upper andlower mold members in an engaged operative position;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of pneumatic safetylocking means with portions broken away to illustrate in cross-sectionspring holding mechanism for the pneumatic safety lock.

The apparatus shown in these figures generally includes as principalparts thereof a platen supporting structure; upper and lower platen andmold units mounted in the platen supporting structure; a pair ofhydraulic actuating members connected between the two platens toselectively control their movements; and special guide and registermechanisms for maintaining the platen in correctly registeredrelationship to one another during their travel in carrying out a pressoperation. These parts are, in general, designed to carry out a pressoperation in which stock to be processed is placed in the lower platenand mold unit and thereafter the two platens and mold units are forcedagainst one another and subsequently disengaged.

Considering first the platen supporting structure, attention is directedto Figs. 1-3 and 6. As noted, especially in Fig. 6, we provide a base,generally denoted by arrow B and consisting of a framework made up ofangle iron pieces 1, 2, 3 and 4 suitably joined together by metalgussets 5, 6, 7 and 8 welded or otherwise secured. To this base issolidly attached two sidewalls 9 and 10 which may be formed, forexample, with flanged bottoms 9a and 10a. upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3,and running between the two sidewalls is a front wall 11 which, as shownin Fig. 2, is relieved along its upper intermediate portion to betterfurnish access to the press interior.

These sidewalls 9 and 10 at their upper portions are constructed withspecially formed sections for receiving the upper platen. Thus, forreceiving the upper platen and mold unit, the walls 9 and 10 areconstructed with upper extensions and (Figs. 1 and 3). In these upperextensions are located bearings as 12 and 14 (Fig. 1) having fixedtherein stub shafts as 16 and 18 on which are pivotally mounted hingemembers 20 and 22.

The hinges 20 and 22 are solidly secured to and support an upper platen24 of the rectangular shape indicated which has connected to it a moldmember 25, as best The hinges constitute a pivotal mounting for rotatingthe upper platen and mold into a raised These sidewalls extend position,such as shown'in Fig. 3, and back into a horizontally disposed position,as shown in Fig. 4.

In the latter horizontally disposed position, the platen 24 is, inaccordance with the invention, received and completely supported uponhorizontally extending bearing edges'9d'and'10d formed in the sidewalls9 and 10. One of these edges, 9d, is most clearly shown in Fig. 3. Wemay also desire to employ: stops as 26 (Fig. 5) located atthe undersideof the upper platenand capable of vertical adjustment therein. It willbe observed that we have shown the upper mold provided with elongatedpins, although it will be understood that the invention is not limitedto thisarrangement.

Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in the sides 9-and 10 is alower platen 28 and mold member 29,

having-the generally rectangular shape shown in the drawings andincluding a box-like enclosure. This structure is provided with a moldsupporting plate 30. When the lower platen is in a bottom position, theentire weight oftheplaten 28 and mold 29 is, in accordance with theinvention, supported through this mold supporting plate 301 upon aplurality of stop elements 32, 34, 36 and 38.

' The stop elements noted are vertical-1y adjustable and constitute animportant feature of the invention. For example, in one preferred form,the stops may include internally threaded hollow posts in which arethreaded extension pins 32, 34, 36', 38'. By varying the position of.theextension pins, very desirable adjustments may be made in the heightof the lower platen and mold unit relative to the base. This isadvantageous in enabling an operator to locate the unit in the mosteffective working position and offers a flexibility feature not, so faras we are aware, found in molds of this heavy construction type.Moreover, such an adjustment feature is exceedingly useful inaccommodating the press to take a range of differently sized moldmembers and thereby generally broadening its capacity.

The, upper and lower platen and mold units now described are, inaccordance with the invention, combined in operative connectedrelationship, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7, by means of two speciallydevised hydraulic actuating members. These hydraulic actuating membersare denoted by numerals 40 and 42 and consist of doubleacting hydrauliccylinders of the conventional .type which may operate on compressed air,for example.

Each of the members 49 and 42 has its two extremities connected betweenthe ends of respective upper and lower platens. For instance, member 40is pivotally pinned to respective platen extensions by pins as 41extending through clevis portions 43 and 44 (Fig. 7) of platen 24, andby pins 45 extending through heavy specially formed clevis. parts 46 and4-8 integral with the ends of lower platen 28, shown in Figs. 35 and 7.

It will be understood that similar clevis portions and pins. areprovidedat opposite ends of the upper and lower platens for the member 42. Itwill also be understood that each of the hydraulic actuating members 40and 4-2 is provided with suitable conduit means for furnishing a fluid,such as compressed air, and, since this type of apparatus is well-knownto the art, it has not been shown in detail in the drawings.

It will be observed that, by thus connecting the two platens together,it becomes possible to carry out several unique positioning steps. Thus,with the lower platen in a bottom position and resting upon the stops32, 34, 36 and 38, it will be seen that the hydraulic members 40 and 42'may be actuated to raise the upper platen and rotate it into theposition shown in Fig. 3 and thus open the press for loading purposes.

Thereafter, the hydraulic members 40 and 42 may be operated to swing theupper platen down into a horizontally disposed position in which thisupper platen rests upon the bearing edges 9d and 10d, ashown in Fig. 4,and, the elongated pins of the mold 25 extend vertically downwardly.

When thus supported, the upper platen comprises an anchoring means forholding the'hydraulic" members and 42 at their upper ends and thesemembers 40 and 42 may then be actuated to lift the lower platen into theclosed position illustrated in Fig. 5, and the lower mold 29 movesvertically upward engaging around the elongated pins of the top mold'25;By reversing these movements, it will be obvious that the pins may be.disengaged without jamming;

It will be further apparent that, inmoving these relatively heavy platenunits in the manner suggested, it is important to maintain preciseregister of the upper and lower molds as they move. into a closedposition. With this in mind, we have combined with the lower platen 28special guide means, includingvertical racks 50 and 52 which arefastened to the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 9 and 10, as illustratedin Figs. 6 and 9. These racks extend over a distance slightly exceedingthe vertical travel of the lower platen 28 and have in mesh therewithgears 54 and 56 free on opposite ends of a shaft member 57. The lattershaft 57, as shown in Fig. 6,.is furnished with guide rollers 58'and' 60which are received in vertical slots as 62 formed through the sidewalls.The guide rollers 58 and 60 are preferably formed with flanged edges, asshown in Fig. 6, which are adapted to overlie opposite surfaces of therespective walls 9 and 10. Also mounted in these vertical slots areupper guide rolls 64 and 66 on shaft 67, likewise extending through thelower platen member.

By means of these guide members, vertical movement of the lower plateninduce-d by the hydraulic actuating members 40 and 42 is constantlyguided by the gear and J and mold relative to the upper platen and mold'is prevented.

In addition to the accuracy requirements required in a machine of thisclass, it is'extremely important to prevent, wherever possible, injuryto press operators during the movements of the platen members. Forexample, in raising the top platen into the position shown in Fig. 3, wecombine with the upper platen a positive mechani-. cal locking means forholding this platen in a raised position. This lockingmeans isconstantly seeking to move into a locking position and must becontinuously held in a released position during'the stop of lowering theupper platenfrom a raised position. includes a pair of arcuate rackportions formed at the two-upper extremities of the sidewalls 9and' 10and indicated by the teeth 9fand 9g.

To engage with these arcuate rack portions, we-provide. pawl members as60" which are pivotally supported, as shown in Fig. 9, for example, onpins as 62 in bracket members 64; The upper ends of these pawl membersproject through openings as 65 in thetop of platen 24 and are pivotallyconnected at 66 to a hydraulic plunger 67 forming a part of a hydrauliccylinder 68. The plunger, as shown in Fig. 10, is resiliently held by aspring 69 in the hydraulic cylinder is a position such that itconstantly seeks to move the pawls into engagement with their respectiverack teeth.

By moving the plunger 67 through suitable hydraulic circuit means, thepawls may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs.9 and 10, and the lower ends of these pawls may thereby be held out ofengagement with the corresponding teeth on the arcuate rack portionswhile the platen is being lowered. It will be apparent that, when theupper platen 24-is raised, the action of thespring 69-will merely holdthe pawls-against the rack teeth and they will slide over these membersThis novel locking means.

without interference. However, if, at any point during the raisingoperation, the hydraulic system should fail, the spring 69 automaticallyinsures locking the pawls into place to prevent the platen from droppingback. The pawls can be disengaged by actuating the hydraulic cylinders68 which force the pawls out of contact with their respective racks.

A further safety device included in the press prevents an operator frombeing caught between the front wall 11 of the platen supportingstructure and the bottom edge of the lower platen 28 when the lattermember is being moved from a raised position to a bottom position. Weaccomplish this by mounting on the front wall of the platen supportingstructure a protective apron or plate 70 (Figs. 3, 4, 5) which is hingedat 72 in a position such that it will be contacted by a portion of thelower platen as this member rises into a position such as shown in Fig.5. Under such conditions, the protective apron 70 will have been swungupwardly about a horizontal axis of hinging, as suggested in brokenlines in Fig. 5, and in this position it is impossible for an operatorto have any part of his body extending into the space between the lowerplaten and the front wall of the platen supporting structure. As thelower platen drops down into a bottom position, as illustrated in Fig.4, the protective apron follows the platen down and assumes the positionshown in Fig. 4, which continues to close the space between the platenand the platen supporting structure front wall.

We have also provided means tending to prevent an operator from beingcaught between one of the vertical stops 32, 34, 36', 38' and the bottomof the lower platen. This means includes telescoping rods 32a, 34a, 36aand 38a which are fixed to the underside of the lower platen and whichslide in the hollow adjustment posts and the platen moves up and down.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that we have provideda unique combination of vertically reciprocating and rotatable platensby means of which a range of mold constructions may be convenientlyemployed. It is particularly pointed out that, in the case of carryingout a press operation with a mold which involves a plurality ofelongated members, such as spacedapart pins, it becomes possible todisengage the pins without interference and still carry out desirablerotative movement of the upper platen. This is accomplished by droppingthe lower platen and mold from a closed position which clears the pinsand then swinging back the upper platen into a fully open position.

The adjustability features of the lower platen is particr ularlyadvantageous in adapting the machine to varying operator requirements,as well as to accommodating a range of lower mold sizes. It is alsoapparent that these novel movements and mechanism are combined in amanner such that a safe, dependable operation can be carried outregardless of whether the hydraulic system becomes inoperative.

While we have shown preferred embodiments of our invention, it should beunderstood that changes and modifications may be resorted to within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim 1. In a pressconstruction, a platen supporting enclosure having a base and sidewallsextending upwardly from either side thereof, an upper platen and moldmember mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis between the saidsidewalls, bearing edge means formed in the sidewalls for rigidlysupporting the upper platen and mold member when it is swung into ahorizontally disposed position, a lower platen and mold mounted forvertically reciprocating movement in the said sidewalls, verticallyextending stop means anchored in the base to receive the said lowerplaten and mold in one position of adjustment thereof, a pair ofhydraulic actuating members pivotally connected between the upper andlower platens and power-driven means for actuating said hydraulicmembers to raise the lower platen and mould into a fully closed positionin which it occurs in suspended relationship with respect to the upperplaten and mould when the latter members are horizontally disposed.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the said verticallyextending stop means for the lower platen are adjustable to vary thebottom position of the said lower platen.

3. A structure according to claim 2 in which the vertical stop meansinclude telescoping guide rods movable with the lower platen.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1, including a gear and rackmechanism for causing the surface of the lower platen mold to remain ina substantially constant horizontal plane during its vertical movement.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1, including a shaft located betweenthe sidewalls, a gear and rack mechanism operated by said shaft forguiding the lower platen and mold during vertical movement and a guideshaft and guide roll apparatus supported on the lower platen and locatedin rolling engagement with one of the side walls for preventing axialdisplacement of the lower platen.

6. A structure according to claim 1, including safety ratchet means forholding the upper platen as it is rotated through into successive raisedpositions.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the sidewalls are formedwith upwardly extending arcuate ratchet portions, and the said topplaten includes pneumatically operated pawls constructed and arranged toselectively engage the ratchet portions in any desired position ofrotatable movement of the upper platen and hydraulically lock the platenagainst accidental release.

8. A structure according to claim 1 in which the sidewalls are formedwith upwardly extending arcuate ratchet portions, said top platenincluding pneumatically operated pawls constructed and arranged toslidably engage over the teeth in the ratchet portion during downwardrotative movement of the upper platen and said hydraulically operatedpoints being under the control of a pair of spring-loaded pneumaticcylinders which selectively engage the pairs against their respectiveratchet portions when the hydraulic actuating members are inoperative.

9. A structure as defined in claim 1, including a safety apron hinged atthe front of the platen supporting structure in a position excludinginsertion of an object between the front edge of the structure and thelower platen during vertical reciprocation of the latter member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS561,091 Clapp June 2, 1896 1,251,851 Wickes Ian. 1, 1918 1,541,966Kappele June 16, 1925 2,000,406 Michelson May 7, 1935 2,415,462 Cherryet a1 Feb. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 859,638 France June 10, 1940

